What Causes Bad Breath?

Nobody wants to be told they have bad breath. But if you do, it’s now possible to find out exactly why, giving you a better chance of getting rid of it for good.

Modern science has found that bad breath can be caused by a number of different factors.

Plaque causes bad breath

Plaque is a film of bacteria covering your teeth. That bacteria loves sugar, and when it eats sugar it releases a gas called hydrogen sulphide. This gas brings with it a familiar and unpleasant smell that makes you think of rotten eggs.

People who have bad breath due to plaque find their problem exacerbated by things like coffee, cigarettes and red wine.

For someone whose breath issue is related to plaque, a thorough clean and a lifestyle change can make a big difference. It can also be helpful to use a combination of medically formulated dental hygiene products as prescribed by a dentist who has a special interest in treating bad breath.

Gum Disease causes bad breath

Another cause of bad breath is a problem with your gums. If you have gum disease, or periodontal disease, a gas is released called methyl mercaptan, which has a poo-like odour.

Gum disease is a very common cause of bad breath because the bacteria involved reacts with oxygen to release that horrible smell. If you ever notice your gums bleeding and have had people comment that you have bad breath, it could be that you have gum issues that need treating.

Your dentist will talk to you about the right combination of dental treatment, medicated toothpastes, oral probiotics and mouth rinse to work towards reducing the impact of bad breath caused by gum disease.

Sinus infection or Post nasal drip causes bad breath

Bad breath can also come from your sinuses and the back of your throat. It’s harder for other people to smell so sufferers are more likely to notice it before anyone else does. They might even get called crazy for complaining about it all the time.

The gas released if you have a sinus or throat infection smells like cabbage and is called dimethyl sulphide. We are all familiar with it from when we have a cough, cold or an allergy attack.

There is a very effective product called KForce BreathGuard Treatment that helps cure bad breath in conjunction with the use of pressure spray to clean mucus from the back of the throat.

Other causes

If your mouth doesn’t create enough saliva, bacteria has a chance to grow. Dry mouth is caused by a number of factors including the use of too much mouthwash, drinking excessive alcohol or coffee or taking certain medications.

Dry mouth sufferers can try chewing sugar free gum after meals to generate saliva. They can reduce their intake of dehydrating drinks or they can speak to a fresh breath specialist about the right mouthwash and toothpaste that will reduce the problem.

Diagnosing bad breath

Aside from asking your friend to take a close sniff (and who would want to do that?), it used to be very difficult to identify which problem and gases were causing bad breath.

Nowadays, using a machine called a Chromograph, dentists like myself can make an accurate bad breath diagnosis in only a few minutes. We take a sample and then get a reading of which gases are present. This will tell you which issues are causing your bad breath, allowing you to get on with eliminating it.